myHR Archives

myHR: April 11, 2018

More than a Paycheck

Clipboard and calculator Working at Penn earns you more than a paycheck. Full-time faculty and staff also gain access to exceptional benefits and services. Penn's comprehensive total rewards package is one of the most competitive in higher education. Your annual Total Compensation Summary shows just how valuable these benefits are, giving you a picture of Penn’s complete investment in you.

Your 2017 Total Compensation Summary should arrive at your home address soon. It’s also available for download from the secure Total Compensation Summary website at www.hr.upenn.edu/totalcomp. This personalized statement covers your salary or wages, retirement contributions, tuition benefits, healthcare and other insurance coverage, and any additional compensation for the 2017 calendar year.

Penn encourages you to make the most of its retirement savings and investment counseling, professional development programs, wellness services, and award-winning work and life resources outlined in your summary. The total rewards package also includes a list of campus cultural activities and unique Penn community discounts.

For quick access to your Total Compensation Summary and your benefits information, visit the U@Penn Portal at www.upenn.edu/u@penn.

Get Ready for Benefits Open Enrollment

Is it time to reconsider which Penn benefits plan is best for you and your family? If you need to make a change, you can during Penn’s Benefits Open Enrollment, your annual opportunity to update your healthcare elections. From April 23-May 4, faculty and staff can make changes to their coverage.

This Open Enrollment season, there will be no increase in medical rates for the 2018-2019 plan year. Rates will remain flat, so if you stay with the same medical plan, the costs will not go up. There are other favorable plan changes for the upcoming plan year to consider when reviewing your benefits needs. For a full list of the 2018-2019 plan changes, visit the Open Enrollment website.

Here’s what you need to know to get started:

How to Enroll
You can make changes to your benefits coverage online at Penn’s secure Benefits Enrollment website from Monday, April 23 through Friday, May 4. You will need your PennKey and password to access the site.

If you prefer to enroll by phone, contact the Penn Benefits Center at 1-888-PENNBEN (1-888-736-6236), Monday through Friday, between 8am and 6pm, and Saturday, between 8am and 5pm (Eastern).

Making Changes
Some of the changes you may need to make during Open Enrollment include:

Enrolling in a healthcare plan for the first time, or dropping an existing plan.
Switching to a different medical, dental, or vision plan.
Increasing or decreasing your life insurance coverage.
Changing how much you contribute to a flexible spending account.
Adding or dropping a dependent from your benefits coverage.*

*If you add a new dependent, you’ll receive a letter requesting that you provide verification of that dependent’s eligibility under Penn’s plan rules. You’ll also need to provide verification if you re-enroll a spouse who had previously been covered.

If You Don’t Make Changes
If you don’t make changes during Open Enrollment, you will receive the same coverage you had last year.

If You Waive Coverage
Under the Affordable Care Act, if you waive your University coverage, you are still responsible for obtaining coverage through some other source. For example, you can obtain coverage through a spouse’s plan, your parent’s plan (if you are under age 26), or via the Health Insurance Marketplace.

When Changes are Effective
Changes made during Open Enrollment will be effective as of July 1, 2018. New rates for all plans will be reflected in your July 2018 paycheck.

Your contributions for medical, dental, vision, and flexible spending accounts are made with pre-tax dollars. You pay for employee and dependent life insurance with after-tax dollars. All contributions are taken from your paycheck in the month for which your benefits are effective. Your pay must support your contributions for the benefits elected.

Making Changes after Open Enrollment
The choices you make during Benefits Open Enrollment will remain in effect through June 30, 2019, unless you experience a qualifying event. Qualifying events include the birth or adoption of a child, marriage, divorce or separation, death of a dependent, and change in your dependent’s eligibility for benefits. Keep in mind that the IRS limits the types of changes you can make for qualifying events.

If you experience a qualifying event, please contact the Penn Benefits Center within 30 days at 1-888-PENN-BEN (1-888-736-6236), Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm, and Saturday 8am-5pm (Eastern).

Learn More
You can learn more about Open Enrollment and your benefits options from these resources:

Review the Open Enrollment materials delivered to your home address.
Visit www.hr.upenn.edu/openenrollment where you can access 2018-2019 rates and the 2018-2019 Benefits Enrollment Guide.
Attend one of the Open Enrollment and Wellness Fairs. Fairs will be held April 24, 10am-2pm at Houston Hall, Hall of Flags, and April 26, 10am-2pm at New Bolton Center, Kennett Square.
Contact the Penn Benefits Center at 1-888-PENNBEN (1-888-736-6236), Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm, and Saturday, 8am-5pm (Eastern)
Email Human Resources at benefits@hr.upenn.edu

Healthy Meals: Chicken Waldorf Salad

Waldorf Chicken Salad This variation on a sweet and crunchy classic is easy to make and pack for a nutritious, satisfying lunch. Serve over your favorite greens.

Find the recipe here.

Click here to send us your healthy recipes and tips.

Did You Know: Final On-Campus Biometric Screenings Coming Soon

The last on-campus Be in the Know biometric screenings for this campaign year will take place on May 8 and June 27. If you missed earlier screenings, now’s your chance to learn and earn for wellness with a convenient blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol check. Register online now.